Ray Emery Leads Blackhawks To Dominant Victory
In what was, without question, his finest game in a Chicago sweater, John Scott was rewarded with one of the game’s three stars after the Blackhawks dominated every aspect of the game against a lifeless Ducks team.
There were fantastic statistical performances all over the box score for the Blackhawks on Friday night.
The usual suspects made their mark. Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp had a goal and an assist each. Nick Leddy had a gorgeous assist to Dave Bolland for a power play goal. Brent Seabrook had four hits and four blocked shots, and Niklas Hjalmarsson had five blocks as well.
But the role players came up big in an overwhelming victory.
Marcus Kruger won eight of nine faceoffs. Jamal Mayers scored a goal, was credited with three hits and won seven of nine faceoffs. Mayers also fought once and served another penalty for roughing after coming to a teammate’s defense. Sean O’Donnell had five blocked shots. And Andrew Brunette was credited with an assist.
But the man making the most noise was Scott.
He was named the game’s Number Two star and was credited with an assist and won a fight in the game. In the third period, there was a legitimate buzz in the 300 level for Scott to get his first goal as a member of the Blackhawks to complete the Gordie Howe Hat Trick, an opportunity that apparently coach Joel Quenneville recognized when he shifted Scott with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane late in the third period.
The game’s Number One star was Ray Emery, who continues to be a revelation between the pipes for the Hawks in December. He kept 24 of 25 Anaheim shots out of the net, unfortunately losing his shutout bid at the end of the Scott-Toews-Kane shift. He was also credited with an assist in the game, and ran his record to 5-0-1 in December.
Chicago is 8-1-1 in their last 10 games and have won four straight. Their 44 points (20-8-4) are tied with Minnesota for the top spot in the Western Conference (same records), and the Hawks improved to 10-2-3 at the United Center.
Most importantly, the Blackhawks are five points ahead of both the Red Wings and Blues; both Detroit and St. Louis have played two games fewer than Chicago.
Really a dominating performance by the Hawks for pretty much the entire game. The Hawks are doing what they have to do which is stockpiling points at home and against weaker opposition.
As for Scott, I think this game really showed that if there is a definitive role for him on this team it is in the forward position, not defense. This especially true against slower, bigger teams like Anaheim.
Cough, cough, cough! I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. Honestly Scott as a forward?
I fear overconfidence.
Really Tab, this article about Scott is comic relief or have you been sucking down the eggnog w/Bourbon….
Hawks played a responsible game…
but…
Bruno and Scott are sllllloooooowwwwwww!
Another worry is Kane and lack of goals and chances! Honestly, we won the game but the pathetic Ducks really outchanced us. ( our 1st 2 goals were very soft)
Did I miss something? John Scott played the best game of his time in Chicago last night & was named the game’s #2 star… that’s it. I didn’t paint him as the second coming of Tomas Holmstrom, and certainly never said Brunette or Scott was going to blow by Kane or Leddy (or the zamboni) in a race, but they contributed to a dominating victory last night.
The simple reality is your final statement, wall: the Hawks hammered a bad team last night. They needed a strong regulation win with contributions coming from everywhere & that’s exactly what they got. Sticktap to them for putting the hammer down and finishing the deal.
re: any concern about Kane’s scoring – I’m not sweating him at all. He’s tied for 5th in the NHL w/ 23 assists and is one of only 23 players in the NHL to have 30+ points entering Saturday’s action. Now… if Toews didn’t have 18, and Sharp didn’t have 17, we might have something to worry about. But having four of the top 23 point-producing players in the league on the same roster is a luxury every other team would love to have right now.